A weekend which extinguished any slim hopes of an unlikely escape. And a weekend which honed in on Boro's glaring deficiencies.

Not only did the side put in such a dreadful show down at Bournemouth, Hull and Swansea poured petrol on the flames by getting all three points in their games.

With a win at Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, Palace moved 14 points clear of Boro. Seven games ago, they were behind Boro on goal difference.

While rivals at the bottom have put their foot on the accelerator when required, Boro have shifted into reverse.

So how does Steve Agnew approach Sunderland now? How does he set about picking up the players after such a woeful morale-sapping defeat?

It's clear the manager is still unsure of his preferred set-up but what's also clear is the fact the system on Saturday didn't work. Not only did the defence look unrecognisable, as an attacking entity Boro were non-descript.

Going forward Bournemouth were everything that Boro haven't been this season. There was movement, pace, unpredictability. At the back, Bournemouth have been charitable - and that's being kind - this term. Never once did they look like being exploited.

It was the darkest day of a drab spell but the day which also offered clarity. There will be no great escape. There's no coming back from that.

So we look forward. You have to. And the planning for next season needs to start now.

The derby...

How weird is Wednesday going to be?

One of the first fixtures we looked for at the start of the season has now turned into a battle for 19th.

Imagine how we'd chuckle if this was Newcastle vs Sunderland.

A win in a derby game would still be most welcome, of course, even if the three points would still leave Boro needing the most incredible and, if we're honest, unlikely flurry of late results.

Still though, for both bosses and both sides it's very much a game they simply daren't lose. For the fans of the losing side, it may well be the evening when the frustrations of recent weeks and months come to a boil.

Sunderland manager David Moyes

Troubles up the road

If you think Boro are going through a rough spell at the minute, just take a look up the road.